NHTSA Complaint #10144623 — 1999 FORD EXPEDITION

MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH A SUPPOSES SAFETY FEATURE. THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO DOOR OPEN. PART OF THIS SYSTEM TURNS ON THE DOME LIGHT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 5 AND 18 MPH. THIS LIGHT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDOWS. IMAGINE YOURSELF BACKING OUT OF AN UNLIT DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE IF THERE IS A CHILD APPROACHING THE REAR OF YOUR CAR. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF OR OVER-RIDE THE DOME LIGHT SHORT OF REMOVING THE BULBS. FORD TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONCE AND IT WORKED PROPERLY FOR A WHILE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. IT IS FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR SIGHT IMPAIRED. I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE DOME LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM DISABLED THAT HAVE IT MALFUNCTION. THE ODDS OF AN INCIDENT HAPPENING DUE TO IMPAIRED VISION ARE SURELY GREATER THAN OF AN OPEN DOOR NOT BEING NOTICED AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING AN INCIDENT. *NM